Pete walked into the library and found Lana sitting alone at one of the
tables. He found it kind of weird that now Lana was a part of there group.
For so long she had just been the object of Clark's affection, a pawn in the
many private bets he and Chloe shared when it came to Clark, someone seen,
admired or poked fun at from afar. Now she was kinda like Chloe, kinda but
not quite. There relationship was like the one he'd had years ago when Chloe
first moved into town with her father.

"Hey Pete," Lana said as he sat down beside her. She quickly closed her
notebook.

Pete caught a glimpse of some colorful doodles in her notebook. All he could
read were the letters C and L as the book closed. He supposed that she was
fantasizing about Clark before he got there.

"Busy? Clark Kent, man of mystery," Lana said to herself. "Isn't that what
you called him once?" Pete didn't reply and they shared a smile. "Anyway,
Chloe's on her way. She had to make a stop?"

It was still odd to him that Chloe and Lana were friends. Of all the things
he'd expected, he'd never expected Chloe and Lana to bond on any level. And
now they were living together. They shared private jokes and smiles. He'd
noticed it long before the moved in together, but moving in together
certainly seemed to have made them closer. Still it was weird that Lana and
Chloe could now be considered a set, a pair, in the way HImself,Clark, and
Chloe use to be a solid trio. Now they were a foursome sometimes and
occassionally the group broke one way or the other.

"Lana, Can I ask you a question?" Pete asked. "Are you friends with Chloe
just to get closer to Clark?"

"What!!" Lana said shocked.

"It's just, I don't know, forget it--"

Lana reached out and touched Pete's hand. He looked up at her. "Pete, I love
Chloe," Lana told him. "She's like, one of the best people I know. And
unlike Clark--"

Pete noticed the name Clark came with some bitterness.

"She says what's on her mind. She puts herself out there, she's--I don't
know. I always wanted to get to know her, I'm glad I finally did."

"Yeah," Pete replied. "She's a pretty cool friend to have."

"Pretty cool? That's the best you can come up with?" Lana shook her head.
"You boys are so bad at talking about your feelings. Are you ever going to
tell her how YOU feel?"

"What?!"

"God Pete, I see it in your eyes whenever you think she's not looking," Lana
said. "There's no need to lie about it."

"It's complicated because of Clark. You know she still has feelings for him.
And you don't want to be rebound guy. Just trading in your friendship for a
chance at something more is hard enough, but the thought of just being a
distraction is much worse."

Pete was shocked she'd hit the nail so squarely on the head.

"Believe me, I know how you feel," Lana told him.

"Hey guys," Chloe said as she met them at the table carrying her school
books. "So will Mr. Kent be here any time soon?"

"Not coming," Pete said.

Chloe shrugged and opened her books. Study time began. The next couple hours
were spent deeply invested in there books. Soon though, they were all
yawning, tired, and ready to go to bed.

"I think we're done for the night," Lana said.

"Yeah," Chloe replied followed by a big yawn. "See you tomorrow Pete."

"See yah," Pete replied.

As Lana gathered her books, her notebook fell to the floor and the paper
she'd been doodling on fell from her notebook. Pete leaned down to help her
pick it up, not wanting Chloe to see Lana's little hearts with Clark's name
in them. But surprisingly he saw it wasn't Clark name on the paper at all.
His eyes met Lana's as she stuffed the paper into her notebook and joined
Chloe. Pete was left in total shock as he watched her leave.

The information was kind of hard to process, it kept him up most of the
night. Not that his dreams weren't pleasant, the reality was just confusing.
Was it possible Lana had a crush on.....no. I mean this was Lana Lang, she
use to date Whitney Fordman, she was Clark's obsession, she was every guy's
fantasy girl. Is it possible that she was interested in? ...Nah, he had to
have misinterpreted what he saw.

But it wouldn't leave him alone, especially not the next day as he entered
the cafeteria side by side with Clark. Lana was leaning on Chloe's shoulder
saying something. They both laughed at some private joke. Chloe pushed her
playfully and then there were the smiles.

"Clark, do you ever ask yourself 'when that did that happened?'"

"When did what happen?"

"That," Pete said pointing to the table. "I mean last year, Chloe and Lana
weren't exactly attached at the hip."

"I wouldn't say they're attached at the hip. What are you trying to say
anyway?"

"Nothing," Pete said as they walked to the table where the girls sat with
there trays.

But it wouldn't leave his mind now and he was aware of everything Lana and
Chloe did. Through lunch, in what classes they shared together, between
class time in the torch office. He noticed every smile and laugh. And then
he began to notice the look in Lana's eyes when Chloe wasn't looking.

Pete went to the Talon that evening and found Lana deep in solo-study time
during one of her breaks. He sat down in front of her.

"What is it Pete?" she said looking up.

"This is going to sound weird, but I have to know. What's going on with you
and Chloe?"

"Chloe's just my friend," Lana said as she squirmed a bit. "That paper you
saw, I was just --fooling around."

Lana froze. She didn't move or speak for a few minutes. "Nothing is going on
okay. I mean maybe I...but I don't want her to know Pete. It'll be too
weird."

"So it's true."

"Can we not talk about this now?"

"But..."

Lana looked at her watch. "I have work to do."

She closed her books and went to work. So it was true. Pete now knew Lana
had a crush on Chloe. Now what would he do with the information.

Lana wondered what she would do now that Pete knew. Moving in with Chloe had
been wonderful, but it made it much more difficult to bury her feelings. The
hardest part was when Chloe was fresh out of the shower, water drops falling
around her body creeping into places Lana wish she could visit. But she hid
these feelings successfully. Sometimes if she played her cards right, she
"accidentally" fell asleep in Chloe's bed and got to snuggle next to her
warmth for the night. Chloe never seemed to make a big deal of the fact they
sometimes woke up spooning. She couldn't imagine how weird things like that
would get if Chloe knew about her crush. Could she trust Pete with her
secret?

"Chloe have you talked to Pete today?" Lana asked as she help her dry the
dishes that night.

"I talk to Pete everyday, why?" Chloe asked.

"No reason," Lana replied.

"You asked for a reason," Chloe replied.

"We just...had a talk."

"About?"

"You, you and me and if I was just your friend because of a certain guy we
know."

"Clark?"

Lana smiled. "Yeah."

"Why can't those boys mind there own business?" Chloe replied.

"Have you ever...thought that it was about that?"

"Maybe once or twice. I just couldn't figure out any other reason for you to
try to be my friend," Chloe told her. She saw the disappointment creep into
Lana's face. Chloe bumped Lana's shoulder playfully. "I know better now."

Lana's felt a temporary relief, but somehow knowing that Pete knew still
worried her. There was a knock at the door and Chloe put down the dish she
was washing, wiped her hands and went to answer it.

"Pete, what are you doing here?" Chloe asked.

"I think our books got switched," he replied holding up a textbook.

"Your book must be in my bag. It's upstairs. Come in, I'll be right back."

Pete came in as Lana stepped out of the kitchen and Chloe fled up the
stairs. Pete didn't know what he expected when he came by here. Ever since
he discovered Lana's secret, his mind had been drifting off to very bad
places, or good places depending on your perspective. As much as he liked
Chloe, despite his attraction to Chloe, he learned to live with the fact she
was not interested in romance with him. But this situation made it hard not
to take his fantasies to a different level.

"What are you doing here?" Lana asked stepping up to him.

"What do mean?"

"You're not going to tell her, are you?"

"No, of course not," Pete told her. "But Lana, can I be honest."

"What?"

"Chloe use to be big on denying her whole Clark crush, but I could tell she
had some feelings for him that went beyond friendship. I kinda wished it was
me, but it wasn't," Pete shrugged. "With Clark now, I don't know. But you,
it's like she sees you through these new eyes now. You know, last year, you
moving away would have been her dream, but she wanted to keep you here. You
ever think she might return your feelings?"

Lana contemplated that for a moment. "No, I mean. I can't risk it and then
have things be weird until I graduate or worse, she'll never look at me the
same."

"I saw take a risk."

"Why haven't you taken one?"

"I have," Pete replied, more serious than she was use to. "Once in Torch
office I kind of kissed her, she told me it couldn't happen and that she
valued our friendship. I told her it was just a weird moment, we moved past
it."

"Here it is," Chloe said coming back into the room. "You want to stick
around? Once we finish these dishes. We were just going to watch some TV."

"Is that okay with your dad?" Pete replied.

"I'm sure it is, but he drove up to metropolis yesterday and had some car
trouble, so he won't even be back until tomorrow."

"So it's just the two of you?" Pete asked.

"Yes, and we're not throwing a party," Chloe replied.

"I didn't say--"

"I know how you're mind works," Chloe said turning toward the kitchen. "Just
go get comfortable we'll be there in a minute."

Chloe returned to the kitchen with Lana in tow. They started on the last of
the dishes.

"Chloe," Lana began as she dried a plate. "Have you and Pete ever, ever
thought about dating?"

"No," Chloe quickly answered. "Why?"

"I don't know, he's kind of cute, his body isn't too bad, and you seem to
have, I don't know, a thing sometimes."

"Do you like him or something?"

"No!"

"If you did, I would be okay with it."

"Because it leaves an all-clear for you and Clark?"

"Please, that's over. He just doesn't feel that way about me. I saw it in
his eyes during that whole Ian thing. That hope that he might care that way,
like with Justin. Just wasn't there."

"Pete cares, he just wants you to be happy. I mean is it just that you're
not attracted to him."

"No, it's ... I don't know, he kissed me once and he has these incredible
lips, he's a really good kisser." Both girls laughed. "It just, I don't want
to go there again, not with a friend, not after the whole Clark thing."

"He's so stupid. I can't believe Clark didn't fight for you. I mean if I
were a guy I'd--" Lana paused, Chloe was focused on her, on what she would
say next. "Never mind."

"What were you going to say, if you were a guy what?"

"Let's just say I'd be a little like Pete." Lana swallowed before
continuing. "I mean, maybe in a way, we already have similar feelings about
something." What was she thinking? Pete was in the next room, but then maybe
that was the reason she thought she could say it. He seemed to think it was
possible.

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know," Lana said putting down the dishtowel and starting to leave
the room.

Chloe grabbed her arm. "Lana, talk to me. You always say how important
honesty is."

"You promise you're not going to kick me out if I say it?"

"Do you really think I would do that?"

"I don't know," Lana said. She stepped closer to Chloe. There faces were
inches apart. So often she had been in this position and had to fight the
urge to pull Chloe close and steal a kiss. She wasn't as bold as her
fantasies but she did take a chance this time, she leaned in and touched the
other girl's lips with her own, it was a testing kiss and for the single
moment it lasted Chloe returned the kiss. Then reality hit hard and Lana
pulled away.

"I'm sorry," Lana said. "Why did I listen to Pete?"

"Pete? He told you to kiss me? What are you two doing, testing me."

"No, it's not like that--" Lana began, but this sentence fell on deaf ears.

Chloe had already made her way to the living room where Pete was watching
TV. Lana followed behind.

Chloe pulled Lana close to her and captured her lips in a kiss. Pete never
thought he would see this, so he was sure if he wasn't already sitting the
reality of it would have shocked him and perhaps knocked him off his feet.
Chloe's kiss was forceful and deliberate. Lana was swept away and shocked
when Chloe's tongue made contact with her own. And she was more weak in
knees than she had ever been before. Pete's face looked as blown away as she
felt.

"Happy now?" Chloe asked with a satisfied look on her face.

"Wow," Pete replied. "But I didn't tell Lana to kiss you. I mean I said she
should tell you how she felt, but I never expected--"

"He's right," Lana said. "Pete sort of figured out I had feelings for you
and told me to go for it."

"I would never set you up for some fantasy," Pete told her. "Though I'm not
going to say I didn't -- never mind."

"So you really have feelings for me?" Chloe questioned.

"For a long time," Lana replied. "I know you probably don't return those
feelings, but now you know."

"I just kissed you Lana, you just kissed me, do you think it's because I
don't have feelings for you?"

"I just thought you were --"

"I better go," Pete said interrupting. He got up and moved toward the door.
"I mean you two have to work whatever this is out."

Lana watched Pete move toward the door. None of this would be happening if
it wasn't for him. She'd still be walking around with it all bottled up
inside.

"Pete wait," Lana called. He paused.

"What?"

"Stay for a minute," Lana said. "Chloe, this is really going to sound weird
but give me some room. I care about you, but I know Pete loves you too. I
just want to know if you have any feelings for him."

"I told you it's complicated," Chloe replied.

"You're not interested in me like that," Pete replied. "I understand.
Anyway, it's not like Lana and I could share you."

"Why not?" Lana replied. She watched the shock register on both Chloe and
Pete's face at this idea. "We both think the world of you Chloe."

"You two haven't run into any meteor infected anything today have you?
Because this situation has taken a very wall-of-weird turn. Lana do you
realize what you're saying."

Lana nodded.

"And you would be cool with that?"

"I'm the one who suggested it," Lana said. "I'm not playing games with you
Chloe. I want you to be admired and loved for all that you are for once. You
deserve it."

Lana pulled Chloe close and she kissed her deeply and tenderly this time.
Pete was fighting the desire to stay and the need to sneak out now. But if
he stayed he still had a shot at every guy's fantasy. Two beautiful girls
willing to do anything to each other and him. Then again, it wasn't about
that at all. Just like Lana said, it was about being there for Chloe. And
deep inside, that's all he ever wanted was give Chloe all the things she
wanted from Clark that Clark wouldn't give. But it seemed like Lana was
perfectly able of doing that on her own. Pete stuck his hands in his pockets
and turned to leave.

"Pete," Chloe called. He stopped and turned around.

"Get over here," Lana said

He didn't know what to do. This couldn't be real. He pinched himself through
his pocket, yeah it was real. So he came back. After all, he was a guy at
the end of the day. Chloe was the first to greet him with a short intimate
kiss, as soft and delicious as it had been before, when he'd stolen a taste
of her lips. When Chloe was done, Lana captured his lips in a kiss. He never
thought he would kiss Lana, he wasn't exactly blind to her sex appeal, but
it was a great kiss. Then they finished with the three-way kiss, a pleasing
experiment that sealed the deal between the three of them.

"He is a pretty good kisser," Lana said. "You do realize you have to keep
this a secret?" Lana told Pete.

"Yeah, well I'm amazing at keeping those."

"So you think you can keep up with us?" Chloe asked Pete.

"I guess we'll find out."

They shared a laugh. Pete had stepped into a dream and it was better than he
ever expected.